System and method for wireless charging of a beacon and/or sensor device

ABSTRACT

A beacon and/or sensor device having a primary and secondary power source uses the second power source in case of a requirement to carry out additional tasks such as advanced functions. The secondary power source of the beacon or sensor device is capable of being wirelessly charged by a wireless charging transmitter when brought in close proximity and/or contact to the beacon and/or sensor device. Thus, the primary power source is not used and drained while performing advanced functions.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of power transmission and,more specifically, techniques to allow recharging by wireless powertransmission.

BACKGROUND

Many portable electronic devices are powered by batteries. Rechargeablebatteries are often used to avoid the cost of replacing conventional drycell batteries. However, recharging batteries with conventionalrechargeable battery chargers requires access to an alternating current(A.C.) power outlet, which is sometimes not available or not convenient.It would therefore be desirable to derive power for a battery chargerwirelessly.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, in one aspect of an exemplary embodiment, a devicecomprising: a primary battery cell capable of providing power to thedevice; a secondary power source having a capacitor; and at least oneinduction coil coupled to the secondary power source and configured toreceive power transmission signals from a wireless power chargingtransmitter to charge the capacitor to provide power for an advancedfunction.

Aspects of another exemplary embodiment include a beacon comprising: aprimary battery cell capable of providing operating power to a pluralityof components of the beacon except for sensor module; a secondary powersource including a capacitor capable of providing power to a sensormodule; a controller capable of sensing a power level of the capacitorand determining if the power level is too low to operate the sensormodule and based upon that determination, sending a Bluetooth® signal toa wireless power charging transmitter to begin wireless power chargingof the capacitor; and at least one induction coil coupled to thecapacitor and configured to receive power transmission signals from thewireless power charging transmitter to charge the capacitor to providepower to the sensor module.

Aspects of another exemplary embodiment include a method of operating adevice comprising: providing operating power from a primary power sourceto components of the device except for an advanced function module;supplying dedicated power from a secondary power source to the advancedfunction module; transmitting a data signal representing a power levelof the secondary power source from a first antenna to a wireless powercharging transmitter; and receiving power transmissions at a pluralityof induction coils in the device from the wireless power chargingtransmitter to charge the secondary power source to provide power forthe advanced function module in response to the first data signal.

The foregoing illustrative summary, as well as other exemplaryobjectives and/or advantages of the invention, and the manner in whichthe same are accomplished, are further explained within the followingdetailed description and its accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram description of a beacon and/or sensor 100within charging distance of a wireless power charging transmitter 200.

FIG. 2 illustrates in a block diagram the details of the device 100 andwireless power charging transmitter 200.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A beacon is an intentionally conspicuous device designed to attractattention such as displays, beepers, and buttons. A sensor is anelectronic component, module, or subsystem whose purpose is to detectevents or changes in its environment such as temperature, pressure, andthe like. Beacon and sensor devices are becoming more prevalent in avariety of sensing and indoor location applications. In many cases abeacon and/or sensor device provides limited functionality in order toachieve long run times off of small batteries. For example a Bluetooth®device may wake up for short periods of time to transmit a fixed packetof information and then immediately go back to sleep. However, in someinstances connection to the beacon or sensor device may be required tosupport additional (or enhanced) functionality such as monitoringsensors, activating user input/output, operating displays, activatingbeepers and buttons, and the like. A challenge is sizing the batterypower sources of the device to allow for enhanced functionality. Oneoption is to oversize the batteries for all devices but this can becostly and create larger form factors. A preferred solution would be tohave minimal battery size for basic functionality then provide power asneeded for additional or enhanced functionality. This can reduce overallcost and size of beacons and allow for power delivery on an “as needed”basis.

In the embodiments disclosed herein, a beacon and/or sensor device has aprimary and secondary (or auxiliary) power source which uses thesecondary power source in case of a requirement to carry out additionaltasks such as advanced functions. The secondary power source of thebeacon and/or sensor device is capable of being wirelessly charged by awireless power charging transmitter when brought in close proximityand/or contact to the beacon or sensor device. Thus, the primary powersource will typically provide power to components of the beacon and/orsensor but is not used and drained while performing additionalfunctions.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are block diagram descriptions of a beacon, sensor, or acombination of a beacon and sensor device 100. The figures also show awireless power charging transmitter 200 capable of providing power todevice 100. The words “wireless power charging” is used herein to meanany form of energy associated with electric fields, magnetic fields,electromagnetic fields, or otherwise that is transmitted from atransmitter to a receiver without use of physical electromagneticconductors (with the exception in certain cases the outside casing ofthe transmitter may come into contact with the outside casing of areceiver). Beacon and/or sensor device 100 is shown within proximatecharging range of wireless power charging transmitter 200. Wirelesscharging transmitter 200 may be a simple standalone charging transmitteror it may also be functionally included in a more sophisticated devicesuch as a mobile communicator. If transmitter 200 is a mobilecommunicator, it may be an Apple® iPhone® or similar with the wirelesspower charging transmission function included. Communication antenna 150of beacon 100 is wirelessly 230 able to connect with antenna 210 ofmobile communication/wireless power charging transmitter 200 to sharedata. Communication blocks 140 and 220 are coupled to antennas 150 and210 and are capable of WiFi, Bluetooth®, cellular and/or some other typeof wireless communications to transfer information to and from thedevice 100 and transmitter 200. Information transferred may includesecondary power source power levels (as well as the primary power sourcelevels) to transmitter 200. The power levels may either be measured bypower management unit 176 and/or controller and memory (“controller”)120. This will allow the transmitter 200 to receive feedback on itscharging progress from device 100 and know when to wirelessly charge ordiscontinue the charge. In addition, the information passed from thedevice 100 to transmitter 200 may be data from sensor modules 115 ordata stored in controller 120 in the device 100 and forwarded to thetransmitter 200 so it can be stored there or passed onto the cloud. Thistype of operation will be discussed in more detail below.

FIG. 2 illustrates in a block diagram the details of the device 100 andwireless power charging transmitter 200. The charging transmitter 200has a plurality of induction charging coils 240 which provide a wirelesscharge 260 to an induction receiver coil (or coils) 170 mounted in (oron) the device 100. If an advanced, additional or enhanced feature ofthe beacon and/or sensor device 100 is required the operator can enablethe wireless charging transmitter 200 as it comes near the device 100(e.g., within the distance that Bluetooth® is able to operate betweenthe charging transmitter 200 and device 100) to beginning charging. Thisadditional function (or a plurality of additional functions) receiving acharge from a secondary power source 130 is referred to herein as an“advanced function” and may be one of, a combination of or a pluralityof the following typically requiring low power to perform: 1) acontinued operation of an existing function of the device 100; 2) aseparate advanced capability which receives power from the secondarypower source; and/or 3) a separate advanced capability module dedicatedto the additional functionality which receives power from the secondarypower source.

An example of an advanced function powered by the secondary power source130 would be operation of environmental sensor module(s) 115. Thesesensor module(s) may sense temperature, pressure, position or the likeand are connected to the secondary power source 130 to receive power. Insome embodiments, these sensor module(s) can indicate to the controller120 and/or power management unit 176 the need for power from thesecondary power source 130 to operate. In turn, the device 100 willwirelessly signal through antenna 150 the charging transmitter 200 tostart providing wireless power 260 to the secondary power source 130.The secondary power source 130 may also power the transmission ofmessages or data received from the sensor module(s) 115 from the device100 to the charging transmitter 200. In some instances, the messages ordata from sensor(s) 115 may then be transmitted by the wirelesstransmitter 200 onward to an interested party. In another typicaloperating example, the device 100 may be connected to expensive orcomplex machine or equipment that periodically requires maintenance. Theservice information could be stored in the controller 120 and requireextra energy for the service notification to be transmitted to aninterested party. The device 100 can then perform the additional neededtasks without draining its primary battery 110.

Referring to FIG. 2 which shows operation of the beacon and/or sensordevice 100 in more detail. Device 100 includes a battery cell 110 toprovide primary power to the components of device 100. The device 100also includes (as discussed above) controller and memory 120 to directoperations of the device 100 including operating both the primary powercell 110 and a secondary (or auxiliary) power source 130. The secondarypower source 130 may be a capacitor or super capacitor (and inalternative embodiments a battery cell). A super capacitor typicallystores 10 to 1000 times more energy per unit volume than a typicalcapacitor. Communication block 140 and associated antenna 150 are usedby controller 120 to provide synchronization data such as a calibrationsignal on a data carrier frequency to antenna 210 regarding the status(e.g., charge levels) of the secondary power source 130 to the chargingtransmitter 200. Based on the charging levels of the second powersource, a need for power for an advanced function, or some combinationthereof induction receiver coil(s) 170 receive charging signal 260 frominduction coils 240. The charging signals are passed through a powerreceiving unit 172 which may include a rectifier, filters, AC/DCconverter, and the like. The power signals are then connected to asecondary power source charger 174 (e.g. shown in FIG. 2 as asupercapacitor charger) which provides power to the secondary powersource 130 (in this case a supercapacitor). A power management unit 176may measure power levels in both the primary power source 110 andsecondary power source 130 and communicate this information to thecontroller 120 and communication block 140. In addition, the powermanagement unit 176 may also be in communication with sensor(s) modules115 to measure their need for power as well. In most embodiments, thesecondary power source 130 is a dedicated supplier to the advancedfunctions of the device 100. However in alternative embodiments,secondary power source 130 may also act as a backup power supply for theprimary power source 110.

As shown in FIG. 2, in induction charging mode upon receipt of a signalfrom the device 100 or activation by an operator, the chargingtransmitter 200 uses a power transmission unit 250 connected to thecoils 240 to wirelessly provide power to device 100. The wireless powercharging transmission unit may include a direct current (DC) powersource, a charge transmitter controller, and/or a half bridge circuit.The wireless power charging transmitter 200 is configured to begininduction charging when device 100 is in close proximity to the chargingtransmitter 200, when a Bluetooth® connection has been established,and/or when the device 100 and transmitter 200 are in physical contact.

In some embodiments, the device 100 may be configured to enter into adormant mode after a predetermined time period when not in operation andawaken when necessary to operate the advanced function powered by thesecondary power source 130.

To supplement the present disclosure, this application incorporatesentirely by reference the following commonly assigned patents, patentapplication publications, and patent applications:

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In the specification and/or figures, typical embodiments of theinvention have been disclosed. The present invention is not limited tosuch exemplary embodiments. The use of the term “and/or” includes anyand all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Thefigures are schematic representations and so are not necessarily drawnto scale. Unless otherwise noted, specific terms have been used in ageneric and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation.

Devices that are described as in “communication” with each other or“coupled” to each other need not be in continuous communication witheach other or in direct physical contact, unless expressly specifiedotherwise. On the contrary, such devices need only transmit to eachother as necessary or desirable, and may actually refrain fromexchanging data most of the time. For example, a machine incommunication with or coupled with another machine via the Internet maynot transmit data to the other machine for long period of time (e.g.weeks at a time). In addition, devices that are in communication with orcoupled with each other may communicate directly or indirectly throughone or more intermediaries.

Although process (or method) steps may be described or claimed in aparticular sequential order, such processes may be configured to work indifferent orders. In other words, any sequence or order of steps thatmay be explicitly described or claimed does not necessarily indicate arequirement that the steps be performed in that order unlessspecifically indicated. Further, some steps may be performedsimultaneously despite being described or implied as occurringnon-simultaneously (e.g., because one step is described after the otherstep) unless specifically indicated. Where a process is described in anembodiment the process may operate without any user intervention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A device comprising: a primary battery cellcapable of providing operating power to a first component of the devicethat performs a first function; a secondary power source having acapacitor configured to provide power to a second component of thedevice that performs a second function different from the firstfunction, wherein the second function comprises monitoring anenvironmental parameter associated with the device; and an inductioncoil coupled to the secondary power source and configured to receivepower transmission signals from a wireless power charging transmitter tocharge the capacitor to provide power for the second component; acontroller configured to send a signal to the wireless power chargingcircuit to begin wireless charging of the second power source inresponse to the device initiating performance of the second function,wherein the induction coil receives the power transmission signals inresponse to the controller sending the signal.
 2. The device of claim 1,wherein the device is a beacon or a sensor.
 3. The device of claim 1,wherein the capacitor and the primary battery cell do not provide powerto the device at the same time.
 4. The device of claim 1, comprising amodule coupled to the capacitor and capable of receiving power from thecapacitor but not from the primary battery cell to perform the secondfunction.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein the module comprises asensor capable of measuring the environmental parameter associated withthe device.
 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the module comprises aservice notification of a machine coupled to the device.
 7. The deviceof claim 1, comprising a module implementing the second functionconfigured to indicate to the controller a requirement of power and toreceive power from the capacitor.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein thecapacitor is a super capacitor.
 9. The device of claim 1, furthercomprising a power management unit to measure a power level of thecapacitor, wherein the power management unit determines if the capacitorhas a charge below a predetermined charge level and indicates to thecontroller that the signal should be sent to the wireless power chargingtransmitter to begin charging of the device.
 10. The device of claim 1,wherein the capacitor is a dedicated power supply for the secondfunction.
 11. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured toenter a dormant mode when not operating for a predetermined time period.12. A beacon comprising: a primary battery cell capable of providingoperating power to a first component of the beacon that performs a firstfunction; a secondary power source including a capacitor capable ofproviding power to a sensor module, wherein a second function performedby the sensor module is different from the first function; a controllerconfigured to: sense a power level of the capacitor, determine if thepower level of the capacitor is below a required power level to operatethe sensor module to perform the second function, the second functioncomprising monitoring an environmental parameter associated with thebeacon, and based upon the determination, send a Bluetooth® signal to awireless power charging transmitter to begin wireless power charging ofthe capacitor; and an induction coil coupled to the capacitor andconfigured to receive power transmission signals from the wireless powercharging transmitter to charge the capacitor, wherein the capacitorfurther provides power to the sensor module.
 13. The beacon of claim 12,wherein the wireless power charging transmitter provides power to theinduction coil through physical contact.
 14. A method of operating adevice, the method comprising: providing operating power from a primarypower source to a first component that performs a first function;supplying dedicated power from a secondary power source to a module thatperforms a second function different from the first function, the secondfunction comprising monitoring an environmental parameter associatedwith the device; transmitting a first data signal representing a lowpower level of the secondary power source from a first antenna to awireless power charging transmitter; and receiving power chargingtransmissions at a plurality of induction coils in the device from thewireless power charging transmitter to charge the secondary power sourcein response to the first data signal, wherein the second power sourcesupplies power to the module.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein thedevice is a beacon or a sensor.
 16. The method of claim 14, furthercomprising: awakening the device from a dormant mode and operating themodule.
 17. The method of claim 14, further comprising measuring thepower level of the secondary power source using a power management unit.18. The method of claim 14, further comprising transmitting a seconddata signal which comprises information from a sensor in the device. 19.The method of claim 14, wherein the secondary power source is a supercapacitor.
 20. The method of claim 14, wherein the wireless powercharging transmitter is configured to begin induction charging when atleast one of the following events occur: the device is in closeproximity to the wireless power charging transmitter, when a Bluetooth®connection has been established between the device and the wirelesspower charging transmitter, and when the device and wireless powercharging transmitter are in physical contact.